
The Darkmoon and its Herbal Apocathery
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First posted: 18 January 2023
The Darkmoon is a beautiful and deeply misunderstood phase of the moon.
As the wisest and oldest phase of the moon, its potent voidal power is ruled by the crone and Goddess Hecate.
A “dark moon” describes the moon during that time when it is invisible against the backdrop of the sun in the sky. Its duration is between 1.5 and 3.5 days depending on the orientation of the earth and sun. There are stages within the phase of the Darkmoon and which I cover in The Priestess Lunar Container that I have established to deepen adapts' understanding of Lunar magic
As Goddess of the Crossroads, Witchcraft and Sorcery, Hecate was depicted as walking the night while her celebrants prepared suppers (Deipnon) named in Her honour on a lunar cycle. Hecate is associated with death, the underworld and rebirth darkness. In the Gregorian, the end of the month is associated with Hecate, but before the our modern calendar, we used the cycles of the moon for time keeping and hence, Hecate is The Goddess of The Goddess of the Darkmoon.
In ancient times and in some circles still today, divination on the Dark Moon was performed within a ‘Hecate’s Circle’, using a golden sphere with a sapphire hidden inside it. This was to impart deep spiritual truth through all voidal space and time.
As a Priestess, I work with Hecate on the Darkmoon for she is the soul and spirit of the void, representing the dark or shadow side of self, transition, and transformation.
Moreover during the Darkmoon, I work with herbs and plants associated with Hecate and that are ruled by the moon within its voidal phase in order to transform and transmute energy - cast out and clear.
My Top 5 Herbs for the Darkmoon
Star Anise
There are so many reason why Star anise comes in as my top 'go to' for Darkmoon magic. Firstly. it’s a highly protective herb, representing the elements and directions. It wards off the Evil Eye and invokes the feminine energy that resides in Earth. Star anisee clears the third eye and invites insight and psychic awareness. It attracts good luck.
Mugwort
Mugwort evokes the wisdom of the divine feminine, deepinging meditation and trance states. It opens a more direct channel to the lunar magic that is always there in crone form and works directly with our womb energy in helping seed manifestations.
Motherwort is the lionhearted love from the mother. She opens chambers to earth to help deep healing and letting go. She is nurturing, and gentle and promotes self love and feminine wisdom within the heart. She is beautiful to work with on the Darkmoon for the gently releasing energy she bestows. She supports the emotional body and replaces stagnant emotions and pain with gentleness and ease in remembrance of all that’s feminine.
Scullcap
Ruled by Pluto. using scullcap within the Darkmoon helps to illuminate and destroy old consciousness and patterns within our subconscious. It's used to keep low vibrational energy and earth bound spirits out. Deeply powerful and purifying, it can be used for spirit removal and to protect the practitioner on spirit journeys.
Black Pepper
Magically, this plant is associated with the energy of Mars. Black pepper is a binding and banishing tool, which is why we eat salt and pepper to ward off any potential harm. It is a remedy to curses, and works directly with Hecate. You can burn black pepper or mop your floors using it to prevent old cycles from repeating and people who wish you harm from returning ot your home .
Other Herbs for the Darkmoon
Other herbs suitable for Darkmoon work are:
- White Sage,
- Rosemary,
- Patchouli,
- Cedarwood or
- Wormwood
Learning More
The Darkmoon itself is a time to rest, cast our, gather, go within, seek answers and be creative to see the new within. When one seeds the new world within well, it ripples like magic outwardly, creating new realities.
The Lunar Calendar **update**
Our 2023 Earth Magic and Lunar Calendar contains adepth Information for each moon phase, including Astrology, monthly rituals and potent Wheel of year magic.
Deepening your knowledge
The article above provides some general guidance for working with herbs during the Darkmoon, however you can learn more about which herbs would be best to work with in your energy field in either of my 2023 adepth programs: The Lunar Priestess Container or the Soul Garden mentorship. You can find out more in the links below - and feel free to contact me if you are not sure which will work best for you,
Lunar Priestess Container ** update for 2024 **
Are you ready to begin the journey with the Ancient knowing that is becoming you? Join Magdelene Maree for this 12 month journey that will show you how moon cycles work for your own individual magic.
The Temple of the Garden Of the Soul **UPDATE FOR 2024
Join Magdelene Maree for indepth spiritual mentoring to help you create a solid foundational connection to your own higher-self and guidance team, and lifting your resting vibration for this life and beyond.